Match Preview

Gillingham will be without captain Barry Fuller for their opening match at home to Cheltenham.

The defender is recovering from a knee injury sustained in the pre-season win over Ebbsfleet and is expected to be out for another two weeks.

The Gills will also be without on-loan Norwich striker Cody McDonald and defender Garry Richards (both ankle) as well as winger Dennis Oli and young forward Andrew White who are suffering with hamstring problems.

Midfield trio Danny Spiller, Jack Payne and Curtis Weston are rated as doubtful but it is hoped that all three will be fit enough to be included in the squad.

In attack, strikers Adebayo Akinfenwa and Mark McCammon are struggling for match fitness and might have to settle for a place on the bench with 18-year-old frontman Stefan Payne pushing for a starting berth.

Creative midfielder Stanley Aborah will have to wait and see whether he is available for selection against the Robins, having agreed to join the club on an initial one-month loan deal, as he is yet to be granted international clearance.

Theo Lewis is Cheltenham`s only absentee for their tough trip.

The young forward, who has looked sharp during pre-season training, has been struck down with glandular fever and is not expected to return until at least September.

Otherwise, manager Mark Yates has a fully-fit squad at his disposal.

His ranks have been bolstered by the arrival of Shaun Jeffers, who signed from Coventry on a one-month loan on Friday and will go straight into the squad.

He joins 10 other summer signings at Whaddon Road in hoping to force their way into Yates` starting XI at the Priestfield.

Midfielder Michael Pook has been named captain in the absence of Shane Duff following his departure to Bradford.

Formation:451Manager: Mark Stimson

Gillingham

Formation: 442Manager: Mark Yates

Cheltenham

Alan Julian

Tony Sinclair

Mark Bentley

Josh Gowling

John Nutter

Danny Spiller

Chris Palmer

Jack Payne

Curtis Weston

Andy Barcham

Stefan Payne

SUBS

Lance Cronin

Kevin Maher

Mark McCammon

Luke Rooney

Danny Jackman

Connor Essam

Adebayo Akinfenwa

Home

Away

Scott P Brown

Keith Lowe

Steve Elliott

Martin Riley

Danny Andrew

Joshua Low

Frankie Artus

Michael Pook

Brian Smikle

Jeff Goulding

Wesley Thomas

SUBS

Daniel Lloyd-Weston

David Bird

Andy Gallinagh

John Melligan

Marley Watkins

Sean Jeffers

Robin Shroot

Match Report

Bayo bags equaliser
Adebayo Akinfenwa rescued a share of the spoils for Andy Hessenthaler on the manager's homecoming to Gillingham as they drew 1-1 with Cheltenham.
Robins debutant Wesley Thomas had put the visitors ahead eight minutes after the restart, but Akinfenwa ensured he too went home with a debut goal 14 minutes from time.
The hosts almost went ahead after 15 minutes when Andy Barcham found Curtis Weston on the edge of the area, but he curled his effort inches over.
The visitors should have taken the lead two minutes into the second half when Frankie Artus threaded a delightful ball through to Thomas, but he fired wide of the left-hand post.
However, Thomas was not to be denied, and in the 53rd minute he gathered a long punt upfield from Keith Lowe before firing the ball into the left-hand corner.
Akinfenwa came on and changed the game for the Gills. In the 76th minute he latched on to a Jack Payne throw before watching as his header was tipped into the net by Scott Brown.
Akinfenwa almost teed-up a winner for Tony Sinclair five minutes from time, but the full-back skewed his effort over.